Popcorn ceilings were a trend that swiftly faded out of style, and it was eventually banned in 1973 due to the health risks they posed to both painters and homeowners.
Popcorn Ceiling History
Popcorn ceilings started becoming popular in the 1950s and continued trending until around the 1980s. It was common to find them in middle to low-cost housing and residential buildings with multiple stories.
Popcorn ceilings helped dampen sound, providing a more peaceful living environment. Contractors loved popcorn ceilings for their ease of installation. Applying the textured spray was quick, meaning homes could be completed faster and at a lower cost.
Smooth ceilings and walls are all the rage right now, and the best way to achieve a modern look. Heavier textures, especially popcorn texture, are outdated and being replaced quickly.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned asbestos in spray-on ceiling materials in 1973. This ban was part of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.
Safety concerns were the primary driver behind this design trend's fall from favor. Before the late 1970s, many popcorn ceilings used asbestos to create the bumpy texture. While asbestos is safe when it's left undisturbed, if it becomes airborne, it can lead to cancer and other diseases.
Asbestos is no longer added to popcorn ceilings because it's a known health risk. The chances of your ceiling containing asbestos are low for any installations in the late 1980s or after. Newly constructed ceilings don't use asbestos.
Gone are the days of the standard white ceiling. Now, deep earthy tones, vibrant primaries, and even multi-color gradients are making their way overhead. These colorful ceilings can dramatically alter the mood of a space, making rooms feel more intimate, energetic, or serene.
Modern homeowners find popcorn ceilings not aesthetically pleasing. However, there are still some benefits to consider if you plan to get rid of those ceilings. As mentioned, textured ceilings or popcorn ceilings can hide a vast majority of surface imperfections on your ceiling, like scuffs and cracks.
In older homes, dropped ceilings are frequently used to hide a deteriorating or unsightly original ceiling. In the house I grew up in, for example, the old plaster ceilings were crumbling and cracked, so a dropped ceiling was installed to hide them away.
Popcorn ceiling's rough, bumpy texture easily accumulates dust, cobwebs, and other particles which makes it harder to clean, particularly rooms with high ceilings. Popcorn ceiling removal will improve the home's air quality because it will be easier to clean the ceiling and fewer particles will accumulate.
We'd never recommend bringing back popcorn ceilings, the dated spray-on treatment that for decades made surfaces look like cottage cheese—instead, these contemporary options can elevate and transform the most mundane interiors.
The use of asbestos in popcorn ceilings was banned in the United States in 1978. Even after the 1978 ban, however, manufacturers were allowed to use up their existing stocks of asbestos-containing products. Homes built or renovated before the mid-1980s could still have asbestos in their popcorn ceilings.
Stucco ceilings, also known as Venetian plaster ceilings, are created by hand-troweling a lime-based plaster onto the ceiling in thin layers. Popcorn ceilings, on the other hand, are made of acoustical material that is sprayed on and contains small pieces of Styrofoam or paper.
If your popcorn ceiling needs a refresh, one of the easiest things you can do is give it a fresh coat of paint. Learning how to paint a popcorn ceiling is simple, especially compared to covering your ceiling or removing the texture completely.
Schutte estimates that removing a popcorn ceiling would add $25,000 to $35,000 in value for a large estate executive home.
The most popular type of ceiling texture is the knockdown texture. The knockdown texture is modern and helps conceal minor imperfections in the ceiling. It also adds an appearance of extra dimension to a room. What are alternatives to drywall ceilings?
Do people still use popcorn ceilings? Popcorn ceilings are never used in modern or new-build homes, and interior designers, decorators, and builders don't choose this design unless requested by a client. Whatever its original appeal, popcorn ceiling today simply isn't a good look.
If you paint the ceiling a darker color than the walls, it will make the ceiling feel closer and the room feel smaller. But if you paint the ceiling a lighter color than the walls, it will make the room feel bigger, even if you are using dark shades on the walls.
What are the most popular ceiling textures in 2024? Minimalist smooth finishes, textured plaster, reclaimed wood panels, metallic accents, geometric patterns, exposed beams and coffered ceilings are some trending designs.
Popcorn ceilings, once a popular design element, are now seen as outdated and unattractive. Removing them can have a significant impact on your home's aesthetics and air quality.
Most old asbestos ceiling tiles look light colored, slightly textured and powdery white. They often have small dotted indentations. If your tiles remain intact there is little to no health risk. However, deteriorating ceilings can put all of your building's users at risk.